Todays post will consist of my previous main interest: Explosives and just a little bit about my current course Linear Algebra (wich I have an exam in Today in 4 hours (so getting kinda nervous).
So, to calm myself down, Im going to talk a little bit about explosives.
Explosions
I started making black powder when I was 12. It was not very good BP (BP = Black Powder), mainly because I used sodium based saltpeter at the beginning of my career. Later I found that potassium-saltpeter is the best to use. There is also a big difference regarding which kind of charcoal you use. First I used charcoal from the local grocery-store (coal used for the barbeque).
Later I started doing my own charcoal and tried different kinds of wood. Actually, newspaper coal was one of the best. The process of doing your own charcoal is not very hard. It consists of "burning" the wood, but without oxygen. So, for example, what you can do is put the wood in a metal container, and poke small holes at the top (for the smoke to emerge), and then you just put the wood-filled-container on the fire.
Videos of me blowing up stuff
Flash Powder is a collection name of a series of different mixtures, the most common one is with aluminum powder and potassium perchlorate. Wich is used in the clip above.
Okay, so now, lets move on to some bigger explosions
420 grams ANNM and 260 grams PNNM
Where ANNM also often called ANFO, is a mixture of Ammonium nitrate (fertilizers) and diesel fuel. PNNM is a mixture of Potassium nitrate and Nitromethane. (Which is fuel for RC-cars and RC-planes)
Two different rockets, not everybody can fly
BP Rocket that did not make it to the sky
So this is a Black Powder rocket that exploded, probably because of air pockets inside the packed BP.
Rcandy is a more of a special approach than a special recipe. The Rcandy consists of Potassium Nitrate and Sugar. But the ingredients is slowly boiled together. This is pretty dangerous for obvious reasons, so if you want to try this, buy a hotplate/hob and do it OUTSIDE! I don't want to be responsible for someone burning up their parents house!
Linear Algebra
So, now to the second topic wich not will be very extensive today. But I can recommend any math-interested person to watch this series:
The Essence of Linear Algebra This is a GREAT series of videos that introduces Linear Algebra with focus on the graphical and geometrical side of the subject.
I will do more math-related posts later, but this will do for today. Everybody; Wich me luck on my exam in 4 hours!
Best regards
Sixtenson